SUSTAINING AND REBUILDING 

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE


2003


- REPORT TO CONGRESS -


THE STATUS OF U.S. FISHERIES


As mandated by the Sustainable Fisheries Act amendments to 

the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1996 

May 2004


U.S. Department of Commerce


National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Marine Fisheries Service


Office of Sustainable Fisheries

An online version is available at http://ww w.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/sfweb/index.htm. 

This publication may be cited as:


NMFS, 2004, Annual Report to Congress on the Status of U.S. Fisheries - 2003, U.S. Dept.


Commerce, NOAA, Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., Silver Spring, MD, 24 pp.

Table of Contents 

A MESSAGE FROM THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR FISHERIES, NOAA ......... -iIntroduction .............. .............. .............. ........... -1-

Report Arrangement and Format Changes .............. .............. .... -2-

Using the Best Available Data .............. .............. ............. -2-

Changes to Determinations .............. .............. .............. . -2-

Identified Stocks .............. .............. .............. ........ -3-

Changes to Stock Listings .............. .............. .............. .. -3-

Overfishing and Overfished Summary .............. .............. ....... -4-

Overview of Overfishing in 2003 .............. .............. ...... -4-

Changes in Overfishing Status in 2003 .............. .............. .. -4-

Overview of Overfished Stocks in 2003 .............. .............. . -5-

Changes in Overfished Status in 2003 .............. .............. .. -5-

Approaching an Overfished Condition .............. .............. ... -5-

Progress Highlights .............. .............. .............. ...... -9-

FMP by FMP Status Determinations .............. .............. ......... -11-

Northeast Region .............. .............. .............. ... -11-

Southeast Region .............. .............. .............. . . -14-

Southwest Region .............. .............. .............. . . -18-

Northwest Region .............. .............. .............. . . -19-

Pacific Islands Region .............. .............. .............. -20-

Alaska Region .............. .............. .............. ..... -21-

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species .............. .............. ..... -23-

List of Tables 

Table 1. Description of Major and Minor Stocks by Council, 2003 .............. .. -7-

Table 2. Northeast Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching 

an overfished condition. .............. .............. ............ -13-

Table 3. Southeast Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching 

an overfished condition. .............. .............. ............ -16-

Table 4. Northwest Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching 

an overfished condition. .............. .............. ............ -19-

Table 5. Pacific Islands Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or 

approaching an overfished condition. .............. .............. ... -20-

Table 6. Alaska Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching an 

overfished condition. .............. .............. .............. -22-

Table 7. Highly Migratory stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching 

an overfished condition. .............. .............. ............ -23-
Sustaining and Rebuilding 

N A T I O N A L M A R I N E F I S H E R I E S S E R V I C E – 2 0 0 3 R E P O R T T O C O N G R E S S 

The Status of the U.S. Fisheries 

A MESSAGE FROM THE 


ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR FISHERIES, NOAA


Welcome to NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service’s report on 

the status of the U.S. fisheries for 2003 

This report documents another year of 

successes and challenges for the National 

Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the eight 

regional Fishery Management Councils. 

Together, we have been working to implement 

the goal of sustainable fisheries as envisioned 

by Congress with the passage of the 

Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) in 1996. NMFS 

continues to make significant progress in our 

scientific knowledge of marine fisheries and in 

our ability to manage these resources. The SFA 

reinvigorated efforts to prevent the overfishing 

of our stocks and to rebuild those that are 

depleted. 

For 2003, we have made some substantial 

format changes to the report. This year’s 

report, while remaining faithful to the 

requirements of Congress, is intended to 

create a more “user-friendly” report. You will 

find in this report the identity of fisheries that 

are subject to overfishing, overfished, or 

approaching an overfished condition. 

Additional stock information, including 

information on those stocks not identified in 

this report, and can be found on the web. 

These stocks are listed by their respective 

fishery management plan in an easy-to-follow 

format. I truly believe that you will find this 

report much more efficient, clear, and useful. 

Our nation’s fisheries are moving in the right 

direction. NMFS is working with the Councils, 

and with our Commission partners, to continue 

to rebuild overfished stocks to levels consistent 

with producing the long-term maximum 

sustainable yield. We have unprecedented 

knowledge about the status of our stocks as 

the number of unknown stocks continues to 

drop. The number of stocks that are overfished 

or subject to overfishing has declined and the 

number of stocks with sustainable harvest or 

stock levels has increased. Our management 

efforts have been successful and the general 

biological trends for our nation’s stocks have 

been positive. For 2003, four stocks were 

declared fully rebuilt - Georges Bank winter 

flounder in the Northeast, Atlantic blacktip 

shark, and South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico 

stocks of yellowtail snapper. 

This year’s report documents the consistent 

progress in our efforts to achieve the SFA 

goals. Yet challenges lie before us. Valuable 

stocks remain overfished. Some rebuilding 

plans have rebuilt stocks to the point where 

they are no longer considered overfished, yet 

are not at their final goals. Still other 

overfished stocks do not have SFA rebuilding 

plans in place for a variety of reasons. NMFS 

continues to work with the Councils and our 

State partners to achieve better the intent of 

the SFA. 

With continued dedication and diligence, the 

goals of the SFA are within reach. NMFS 

continues to be committed to a transparent, 

timely, and effective process in our 

responsibilities as stewards of our marine 

fishery resources. 

William T. Hogarth, Ph.D. 

-i-
Sustaining and Rebuilding 

N A T I O N A L M A R I N E F I S H E R I E S S E R V I C E – 2 0 0 3 R E P O R T T O C O N G R E S S 

The Status of the U.S. Fisheries 

Introduction 

This report describes the state of our nation’s fisheries and the effectiveness of fisheries 

management under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act 

(MSA) as amended in 1996 by the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA). The SFA placed 

critical emphasis on the need to end overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, and establish 

management plans designed to ensure biologically and economically sustainable fisheries. A 

stock that is above an established fishing mortality (harvest) rate is said to be subject to 

overfishing. A stock that is below its prescribed biological threshold is considered overfished. 

Since the passage of the SFA, significant progress continues to be made in our scientific 

knowledge of marine fisheries and in our ability to manage for the sustained use of these 

resources based on that 

knowledge. This report responds 

to the Congressional 

requirement for an annual 

report on the status of fisheries 

within each council’s geographic 

area of authority and to identify 

those fisheries that are 

overfished or approaching a 

condition of being overfished. 

This report on the Status of U.S. 

Fisheries, 2003, is the seventh 

annual report of its kind. The 

format of this year’s report 

represents a significant 

departure from reports of years 

past and follows more closely 

the Section 304 requirements. 

This report identifies fisheries 

“The Secretary shall report annually to the 

Congress and the councils on the status of 

fisheries within each council’s geographic 

area of authority and identify those fisheries 

that are overfished or are approaching a 

condition of being overfished.” 

-Section 304(e)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management Act 

(MSA), as amended by the Sustainable 

Fisheries Act (SFA) of 1996 

that are undergoing overfishing, are overfished, or are approaching an overfished condition. 

While this report simplifies greatly the presentation of the data, detailed information on all of 

the stocks – including information on required management action for the stocks and the 

identity of those stocks that are not undergoing overfishing and not overfished, or whose 

status is unknown or undefined -- may be found in the supporting tables, located at 

http://ww w.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/sfweb/index.htm. 

This report identifies marine fish stocks in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), an area 

that extends from three to 200 miles offshore and covers more than 2 million square miles, 

including stocks that straddle international boundaries and highly migratory stocks. In 

response to the Congressional requirement, the report examines stocks according to their 

individual status and answers several questions to help gauge the effectiveness of the SFA 

provisions: 

-1-

1. What stocks are subject to overfishing? 

2. What stocks are overfished? 

3. What stocks are approaching an overfished condition? 

4. How do this year’s determinations compare to previous years? 

Report Arrangement and Format Changes 

This year, NMFS has made significant changes to the structure of the report. Status


determinations are presented in such a way as to improve the accessibility of the report,


making the report easier to read, follow, and understand. This report provides status


determinations that have been made for those stocks subject to overfishing, that are


overfished, or that are approaching an overfished condition. Stocks are identified within


each Council’s geographic area of authority and are listed according to their fishery


management plan (FMP). The basic criteria for listing, however, remain the same. 


In addition, a database maintaining full status determinations for all stocks, information


related to necessary management actions to be taken, and progress being made in


rebuilding overfished stocks, is accessible on the internet at


http://ww w.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/sfweb/index.htm. This site will also provide greater detail on


overfishing definitions, methodology, assessments, and a guide to acronyms used


throughout the report and tables.


Using the Best Available Data 

NMFS reviewed each stock relative to status determination criteria contained in the relevant 

FMPs using the best available, most current scientific information. Based on this information, 

for each stock, we determined the overfishing and overfished condition of the stock, 

including whether or not it is approaching an overfished condition. 

NMFS used many resources to make these determinations, including final, reviewed 

documents such as Stock Assessment Review Committee reports and recommendations of 

each Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee. Some species are not included in a 

federal FMP (i.e., species managed by an interstate marine fisheries commission, individual 

states, or international agreement), so the stock status determination was made using other 

official sources of information, as adopted in accordance with the relevant FMP. 

Changes to Determinations 

This year’s report is based on assessments that were completed as of December 31, 2003. 

Results from fishery stock assessments that were in progress on the cutoff date will be 

captured in next year’s report. A change of note that occurred after the cutoff date is for 

Pacific whiting. On April 15, 2002, this stock was declared overfished. Since that time, 

however, the Pacific whiting stock has increased substantially as a strong 1999 year class 

has matured and entered the spawning population. Although this report continues to list it 

as overfished and subject to overfishing, the latest assessment, completed March 2004, 

indicates that Pacific whiting is no longer subject to overfishing and is estimated to be above 

the target rebuilding biomass and no longer overfished. In addition, last year’s report 

indicated that assessments that arrived after the August 1, 2002, cutoff date for that report 

showed that North Atlantic swordfish was no longer overfished and close to being fully 

rebuilt. This stock’s status in this report is updated to reflect its current condition. 

-2-

Identified Stocks 

Since 1997, the total number of stocks on which we have reported has varied from a low of 

727 in 1997, to a high of 959 in 2001. NMFS does not routinely assess the status of many of 

these stocks because generally they are not targeted in fisheries and have a low probability 

of becoming overfished. The status of these stocks is “unknown” in most cases because 

there is insufficient information to conduct 

assessments and make status 

determinations. The presence of these 

stocks does not assist in meeting the 

requirement to identify those fisheries that 

are overfished or approaching a condition 

of being overfished. This report focuses on 

those stocks for which such overfishing 

determinations have been made. For 

2003, we reviewed 909 stocks. The status 

determinations for all stocks in 2003 are 

included in the database provided on the 

web while only those stocks with positive 

determinations are reported here. 

Most stocks considered for this report are 

managed under a Council or joint Council 

FMP. There are 44 federal FM Ps in effect, 

two under development, three that have 

been approved but not yet implemented, 

and several other fisheries in the EEZ that 

are managed by non-federal FMPs. Stocks 

Determinations 

Overfished	 A stock size that is below a 

prescribed biomass threshold 

Overfishing	 Harvesting at a rate above a 

prescribed fishing mortality 

threshold 

Approaching	 Based on trends in 

harvesting effort, fishery 

resource size, and other 

appropriate factors, it is 

estimated that the fishery will 

become overfished within two 

years 

managed under a non-federal FMP are generally managed by the states through the 

interstate marine fisheries commissions. The states also aid in achieving the goals of some 

federal FMPs. For example, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission implements 

compatible management measures in state waters under the joint Mid-Atlantic 

Council/Commission Summer Flounder , Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP, thereby applying 

comprehensive management throughout the range of these species. 

Changes to Stock Listings 

For 2003, 25 stocks from Alaska FMPs (9 from Gulf of Alaska Groundfish and 16 from Bering 

Sea and Aleutian Islands Groundfish) were removed from the report, since there is no 

confirmed occurrence of those species in the respective areas. None of these stocks, 

however, would have appeared in this year’s report, as their status in 2002 w as unknown. 

Atlantic bonito was removed, as the Highly Migratory Species Management Division has no 

management authority for this stock. A new Pelagic Sargassum Habitat of the South Atlantic 

Region FMP, listed previously as under development, was partially approved by the 

Secretary of Commerce on July 11, 2003, and added to the Southeast Region. 

-3-

Overfishing and Overfished Summary 

This year, 4 major1 stocks were declared fully rebuilt - Georges Bank winter flounder in the 

Northeast, Atlantic blacktip shark, and South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico stocks of yellowtail 

snapper. 

Although some stocks remain overfished, the general biological trend in biomass of the 

nation’s stocks continues to be positive (see “Progress Highlights,” page 9). In 2003, the 

nation’s fish stocks continued the progress begun in 1999 after SFA’s strengthened 

management tools were more fully implemented. Table 1 provides a summary of the status 

of all 909 stocks. 

As demonstrated in the 2002 report, the data should be examined carefully. This year’s 

report builds on the inter-annual stock-by-stock comparison begun in the 2002 report. Full 

details on the methodology of that analysis can be found in that report at 

http://ww w.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/reports.html. In 2003, overfishing was eliminated 5 times, 

increasing the total corrected count to 31, compared to the 26 reported in the 2002 report. 

Although in an additional 2 cases overfishing has been initiated, which can be added to the 

12 reported in 2002, the net positive gain is 17 stocks for which overfishing has been 

successfully eliminated (31 stocks minus 14). Ten stocks were determined to be above their 

biomass thresholds, increasing the count to 30 from the 20 reported in the 2002 report. 

Although 4 stocks has become newly overfished, to add to the 13 reported in 2002, the net 

positive result is 13 stocks that have rebuilt above their biomass thresholds (30 stocks 

minus 17), and includes several important stocks, such as summer flounder, South Atlantic 

yellowtail snapper and North Atlantic swordfish. 

Overview of Overfishing in 2003 

# The number of stocks for which the fishing mortality rate exceeds the overfishing 

threshold decreased from 66 in 2002 to 60 in 2003. 

# The number of stocks found to be not subject to overfishing increased from 208 in 

2002 to 232 in 2003. 

# The number of stocks for which harvest rates are unknown or for which overfishing 

thresholds are not defined decreased from 658 in 2002 to 617 in 2003. 

Changes in Overfishing Status in 2003 

# In the Northeast Region, summer flounder and spiny dogfish are no longer subject to 

overfishing. 

# Northeast region stocks of southern New England winter flounder, American shad, 

and river herring are subject to overfishing. 

#	 In the Southeast Region, South Atlantic yellowtail snapper is no longer subject to 

overfishing. Gulf of Mexico yellowtail snapper was found to be not subject to 

overfishing, having been listed as unknown previously. 

# In the Northwest Region, lingcod is listed as subject to overfishing.


# In the Pacific Islands Region, bigeye tuna was newly listed as subject to overfishing.


1

A “major” stock is a stock that has 200,000 pounds or more of landings in 2001. Pacific salmon are an 

exception, as noted in the 2002 report (see: h ttp: //www.nmfs .noa a.go v/ sfa /r epor ts .h tml). Some stocks are 

managed as a part of a complex, and the com plex may be m ajor as a group, but m inor on an individual stock basis. 

Such is the case with many Alaska stocks. 

-4-
#	 For the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species group, North Atlantic swordfish and blacktip 

shark are no longer subject to overfishing. 

#	 For the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species group, the following stocks are now listed as 

“unknown” rather than subject to overfishing because these stocks have not been 

assessed: basking shark, bigeye sand tiger shark, Galapagos shark, narrowtooth 

shark and whale shark. 

Overview of Overfished Stocks in 2003 

#	 The number of stocks determined to be overfished decreased from 86 in 2002 to 76 

in 2003. 

# Stocks found to be not overfished decreased from 150 in 2002 to 138 in 2003. 

# The number of stocks for which the overfished status is unknown or for which fishing 

mortality thresholds are not defined decreased from 695 in 2002 to 694 in 2003. 

# The number of stocks approaching an overfished condition remained the same at 1. 

Changes in Overfished Status in 2003 

#	 In the Northeast Region, American plaice and Southern New England winter flounder 

are now listed as overfished. American plaice is currently rebuilding under rebuilding 

measures approved as part of Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. 

# Atlantic pollock, summer flounder, and monkfish-southern stock are no longer 

overfished and are rebuilding. 

# Northeast region stocks of American shad and river herring, are now listed as 

overfished. 

#	 Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England stocks of yellowtail flounder have been 

combined into one stock, listed as overfished. Since both stocks were listed as 

overfished last year, the result is one less overfished stock for 2003. 

#	 In the Southeast Region, South Atlantic yellowtail snapper is not overfished and is 

rebuilt under its plan. Gulf of Mexico red grouper is no longer overfished and is 

rebuilding. 

#	 South Atlantic vermilion snapper is no longer listed as overfished, but is “unknown.” 

Gulf of Mexico vermillion snapper is newly listed as overfished. 

#	 In the Alaska Region last year, Saint Matthews Island Blue King Crab and (Eastern) 

Bering Sea tanner crab were listed as overfished. Currently, neither of these stocks is 

overfished and the stocks are rebuilding. 

# Blue King crab-Pribilof Islands was approaching an overfished condition last year, and 

this year is overfished. Bering Sea snow crab was revised from rebuilding (not 

overfished) to overfished. 

# For the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species group, blacktip shark is no longer overfished 

and is rebuilt under the FMP. Sandbar shark and North Atlantic swordfish are no 

longer overfished and are rebuilding. 

# For the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species group, the following stocks are now listed as 

“unknown” rather than overfished because these stocks have not been assessed: 

basking shark, bigeye sand tiger shark, Galapagos shark, narrowtooth shark and 

whale shark. 

Approaching an Overfished Condition 

The basis for determining if a stock is approaching an overfished condition is an examination 

of the current stock biomass and trends in fishing effort. Unless the status of the stock is 

known, a determination about whether the stock will become overfished within two years 

-5-

cannot be made with any certainty. Therefore, the definition for the biomass threshold in the 

FMP, along with trends in fishing effort, should be the determining criteria in evaluating 

whether a stock is approaching an overfished condition. In some cases, the pre-SFA 

definition has remained in the FMP and was used as the basis for the determinations. Also, 

for Pacific salmon stocks, the determining criteria are based on maximum sustainable 

yield/maximum spawner potential objectives for natural stocks or stock complexes. 

#	 One stock is listed as approaching an overfished condition in 2003, the Highly 

Migratory Species group’s Atlantic yellowfin tuna. 

-6-

Table 1. Description of Major and Minor Stocks by Council, 2003 

Jurisdiction Stock 

Group 

Number 

of 

Stocks 

2001 

Landings 

(x 1,000 

Pounds) 

Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching

Overfished 

Condition 

Yes No Not 

Known 

Not 

Defined N/A Yes No Not 

Known 

Not 

Defined N/A 

NEFMC Major 27 444,485 8 12 6 1 0 10 15 2 0 0 0 

Minor 9 67 0 2 6 1 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 

Total 36 444,552 8 14 12 2 0 15 19 2 0 0 0 

MAFMC Major 11 251,667 3 8 0 0 0 3 7 1 0 0 0 

Minor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Total 11 251,667 3 8 0 0 0 3 7 1 0 0 0 

NEFMC / 

MAFMC Major 3 56,419 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 

Minor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Total 3 56,419 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 

SAFMC Major 24 38,040 8 10 6 0 0 6 11 7 0 0 0 

Minor 64 1,770 3 12 47 2 0 6 5 46 7 0 0 

Total 88 39,810 11 22 53 2 0 12 16 53 7 0 0 

GMFMC Major 23 307,511 4 8 9 2 0 4 7 9 3 0 0 

Minor 34 1,235 0 7 27 0 0 2 0 27 5 0 0 

Total 57 308,746 4 15 36 2 0 6 7 36 8 0 0 

SAFMC / 

GMFMC Major 8 47,432 0 6 2 0 0 1 5 2 0 0 0 

Minor 2 110 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 

Total 10 47,542 0 6 3 1 0 1 5 3 1 0 0 

CFMC Major 4 12,490 1 1 2 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 

Minor 175 0 0 8 152 15 0 2 0 136 37 0 0 

Total 179 12,490 1 9 154 15 0 3 1 138 37 0 0 

NEFMC/ 

MAFMC/ 

S AF MC 

Major 1 1,348 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 

NEFMC/ 

MAFMC/ 

S AF MC 

Minor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NEFMC/ 

MAFMC/ 

S AF MC 

Total 1 1,348 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 

-7-

Table 1. Description of Major and Minor Stocks by Council, 2003, Cont’d. 

Jurisdiction Stock 

Group 

Number 

of 

Stocks 

2001 

Landings 

(x 1,000 

Pounds) 

Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching 

Overfished 

Condition 

Yes No Not 

Known 

Not 

Defined N/A Yes No Not Known 

Not 

Defined N/A 

PFMC Major 64 913,632 2 34 16 1 11 7 27 16 3 11 0 

Minor 101 1,867 0 4 50 5 42 2 1 51 5 42 0 

Total 165 915,499 2 38 66 6 53 9 28 67 8 53 0 

WPFMC Major 13 39,824 1 7 5 0 0 0 8 5 0 0 0 

Minor 50 17,911 0 17 32 1 0 1 0 48 1 0 0 

Total 63 57,735 1 24 37 1 0 1 8 53 1 0 0 

NPFMC Major 59 4,849,592 0 49 10 0 0 1 28 30 0 0 0 

Minor 137 2,019 0 30 107 0 0 1 3 133 0 0 0 

Total 196 4,851,611 0 79 117 0 0 2 31 163 0 0 0 

PFMC / 

NPFMC Major 1 77,457 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 

Minor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Total 1 77,457 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 

HMS Major 14 50,618 6 6 1 1 0 4 7 1 1 0 1


Minor 68 557 17 3 16 32 0 17 3 16 32 0 0 

Total 82 51,175 23 9 17 33 0 21 10 17 33 0 1 

ASMFC Major 13 730,984 5 3 5 0 0 2 3 5 3 0 0


Minor 2 200 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 

Total 15 731,184 5 4 6 0 0 3 3 6 3 0 0 

GSMFC Major 2 1,173,546 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0


Minor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Total 2 1,173,546 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 

TOTAL Major 267 8,993,905 40 147 64 5 11 39 122 82 12 11 1


Minor 642 25,736 20 85 438 57 42 37 16 459 88 42 0 

Total 909 9,019,641 60 232 503 62 53 76 138 541 100 53 1 

-8-

Progress Highlights 

In 2002, NMFS highlighted stocks from each of the Regions, noting the progress being made 

to end overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks. That progress has continued through a 

steady, incremental process. Even though a stock may still be listed as "overfished," a lot of 

progress may be happening that doesn’t necessarily translate into an immediate change in 

its determination. Some stocks may be moving in one direction or the other, but there may 

have been no change to the determination. 

Provided below are some rebuilding highlights from 2003 that illustrate how some 

improvement can be illustrated by actual changes in status, while other improvement is 

masked by biological constraints or by the definitions of overfished or overfishing 

themselves. 

Southeast Region 

In the Southeast region, a recent stock assessment confirmed that the status of yellowtail�

snapper has improved markedly. Cooperative efforts among NMFS, the GMFMC, the SAFMC,�

and the member states, have resulted in the recovery of yellowtail snapper, a stock�

important to both the commercial and recreational sectors. The management of yellowtail�

snapper dates back to 1983 with a minimum size of 12 inches. Additional measures have�

followed since that time, including a 10-fish per day recreational aggregate bag limit for�

most snappers, prohibiting the use of entanglement gear, reducing the number of fish traps�

fishers can use, establishing strict�

commercial trip limits, and�

managing commercial reef fish�

permits to stabilize the amount of�

effort directed at these fisheries. 

This year’s Report indicates that 

yellowtail snapper is not 

overfished and not undergoing 

overfishing. 

Northwest Region 

Nine Pacific coast groundfish 

stocks continue to be designated 

as overfished in 2003. These 

species include: Pacific ocean 

perch, bocaccio, lingcod, canary 

rockfish, cowcod, darkblotched 

rockfish, widow rockfish, 

yelloweye rockfish, and Pacific 

whiting2

. Because many of these 

stocks are long-lived and slow to 

reproduce, 

2 Pacific whiting is designated as subject to overfishing and overfished in this report, as that was its status 

Figure 1. Estimate of lingcod spawning biomass from the 

2000 and 2003 stock assessments. Source: Jagielo, T.H., et 

al., 2003. Assessment of lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) for the 

PFMC in 2003. Pacific Fishery Management Council, Portland, 

Oregon. 

prior to the December 31, 2003, cut-off date for status determinations. However, an assessment completed March, 

2004, indicates that overfishing was eliminated in 2002 and no longer overfished in 2003. In a final rule published 

on April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23667), NMFS announced that Pacific whiting w as above the target rebuilding biomass in 

2003 and is no longer considered overfished. 

-9-
they cannot support aggressive harvest rates. Similarly, once these stocks are overfished, 

they are slow to rebuild. Rebuilding plans for overfished Pacific coast groundfish species of 

canary rockfish, darkblotched rockfish, lingcod, and Pacific ocean perch were approved on 

January 30, 2004. Additionally, NMFS announced on April 30, 2004, that the Pacific whiting 

stock is estimated to be above the target rebuilding biomass in 2003 and will no longer be 

considered an overfished stock. The remaining stocks are being managed under interim 

rebuilding measures or default rebuilding policies while species-specific rebuilding plans for 

them are formalized. Reductions in both the harvest and bycatch of these overfished species 

have enabled these stocks to begin rebuilding. For example, the most recent lingcod stock 

assessment illustrates an increase in spawning biomass since the late 1990s (see Figure 1). 

Highly Migratory Species Group 

The latest assessment for North Atlantic swordfish indicates that biomass has improved over 

time. This is likely due to strong recruitment into the fishery since 1997 (1996 year-class), 

combined with recent reductions in reported catch, especially compared to the peak catch 

values of 1987. The large number of fish recruiting to the stock in the late 1990s are now 

contributing to increases in spawning stock biomass and should result in further 

improvement, if they are not harvested heavily. 

-10-

FMP by FMP Status Determinations 

Northeast Region 

There are 13 FMPs managed by NM FS and the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery�

Management Councils: Atlantic Sea Scallop; Northeast Multispecies; Northeast Skate;�

Atlantic Herring; Red Crab; Monkfish; Spiny Dogfish; Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea�

Bass; Atlantic Bluefish; Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and�

Butterfish; Tilefish; and Atlantic Salmon. A Hagfish FMP is under development. In addition,�

several stocks fall under the jurisdiction of the Northeast Region that are managed under�

FMPs administered by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.�

Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Northeast Multispecies FMP 

•
 There are 8 stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP - Gulf of Maine cod, Georges 

Bank cod, American Plaice, witch flounder, southern New England/Mid-Atlantic 

yellowtail flounder, Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder, white hake, and 

Southern New England winter flounder 

•
 There are 12 overfished stocks in this FMP - Gulf of Maine cod, Georges Bank cod, 

Gulf of Maine haddock, Georges Bank haddock, American Plaice, southern New 

England/Mid-Atlantic yellow tail flounder, Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder, 

white hake, Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic windowpane flounder, Southern New 

England winter flounder, ocean pout, and Atlantic halibut. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Northeast Skate FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing this FMP. 

• There are 2 overfished stocks in this FMP - barndoor skate and thorny skate. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Atlantic Herring FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Red Crab FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Monk fish FMP 

•
 There are 2 stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP - northern monkfish and 

southern monkfish. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Spiny Dogfish FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

-11-

•
 There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. However, there is currently no definition 

in the FMP to make a determination of biomass target. Based on the current NMFS 

recommended biomass threshold, however, the biomass estimates indicate that spiny 

dogfish is overfished. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Summer Flounder , Scup and Black Sea Bass FMP 

• There are 2 stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP - scup and black sea bass. 

•
 There is 1 overfished stock in this FMP - black sea bass. NEFSC Spring survey results 

(2003) indicate that this stock is no longer overfished; however those results have 

not yet been incorporated into a peer reviewed assessment. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Atlantic Bluefish FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There is 1 overfished stock in this FMP - bluefish (except Gulf of Mexico). 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Atlantic Mackerel, Squid , and Butter fish FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Tile fish FMP 

• There is 1 stock subject to overfishing in this FMP - Golden tilefish. 

• There is 1 overfished stock in this FMP - Golden tilefish. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Atlantic Salmon FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There is 1 overfished stock in this FMP - Atlantic salmon. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Fisheries Not Managed under a Federal FMP 

•
 There are 5 stocks subject to overfishing in fisheries not managed under a Federal 

FMP - American lobster, Northern shrimp, tautog, American shad, and river herring. 

•
 There are 3 overfished stocks in fisheries not managed under a Federal FMP -

American shad, river herring, and Atlantic sturgeon. 

•
 There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in fisheries not managed 

under a Federal FMP. 

FMPs under Development 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in FMPs under development. 

• There are no overfished stocks in FMPs under development. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in FMPs under development. 

-12-

Table 2. Northeast Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching 

an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching?

Northeast Multispecies 

Northeast Multispecies 

Northeast Multispecies 

Northeast Multispecies 

Northeast Multispecies 

Northeast Multispecies 

Northeast Multispecies 

Northeast Multispecies 

Northeast Multispecies 

Northeast Multispecies 

Northeast Multispecies 

Northeast Multispecies 

Northeast Multispecies 

No rthea st Sk ate 

No rthea st Sk ate 

Monkfish 

Monkfish 

Summ er Flounder, Scup 

and Black Sea Bass 

Summ er Flounders, Scup, 

and Black Sea Bass 

Bluefish 

Tilefish 

Atlantic salmon 

Non-federal FMPs 

Non-federal FMPs 

Non-federal FMPs 

Non-federal FMPs 

Non-federal FMPs 

Gulf of Maine cod Y Y -

Georges Bank cod Y Y -

Gulf of Maine haddock - Y -

Georges Ba nk haddock - Y -

American plaice Y Y -

witch flounder Y - -

Southern New England/MidAtlantic yellowtail flounder Y Y -

Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine 

yellowtail flounder 

Y Y -

white hake Y Y -

Southern New England/MidAtlantic windowpane 

flounder 

- Y -

Southern New England 

winter flounder 

Y Y -

ocean pout - Y -

Atlantic halibut - Y -

bar ndo or s kate - Y -

thor ny s kate - Y -

northern monkfisha Y - -

southern monkfisha Y - -

scupb Y - -

black sea bass Y Y -

bluefish - Y -

golden tilefish Y Y -

Atlantic salmon - Y -

American lobster Y - -

northern shrimp Y - -

tautog Y - -

American shad Y Y -

river herring Y Y -

Non-federal FMPs Atlantic sturgeon - Y -

a

 -The most recent assessment (SAW-34) was not able to precisely determine current exploitation rates (although all 

candidate values were above a candidate Fthreshold ). Accordingly, the status of this stock w ith respect to F is 

unchanged, pending an updated stock asses sment. b

 - The most recent assessment (SAW-35) could not make a quantitative estimate of the current F; therefore, no 

comparison with the F threshold specified in the FMP could be made. 

-13-

Southeast Region 

There are 17 FMPs managed by NMFS and the South Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of 

Mexico Fishery Management Councils: South Atlantic Golden Crab; South Atlantic Shrimp; 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper; Atlantic Coast Red Drum; Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard 

Bottom Habitats of the South Atlantic Region; Pelagic Sargassum Habitat of the South 

Atlantic Region; Coastal Migratory Pelagics of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Gulf of 

Mexico/South Atlantic Spiny Lobster; Gulf of Mexico Stone Crab; Gulf of Mexico Shrimp; 

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico; Gulf of Mexico Red Drum; Coral and Coral Reefs 

of the Gulf of Mexico; Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Spiny 

Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Queen Conch Resources of Puerto 

Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; and Corals and Reef Associated Invertebrates of Puerto 

Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, several stocks are contained in FMPs under 

development, including Calico scallops and Wahoo 3

. 

South Atlantic Golden Crab FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

South Atlantic Shrimp FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper FMP 

•
 There are 10 stocks subject to overfishing in this FM P - vermilion snapper, red 

snapper, snowy grouper, golden tilefish, red grouper, black sea bass, gag, speckled 

hind, Warsaw grouper, and black grouper. 

•
 There are 11 overfished stocks in this FMP - red snapper, snowy grouper, Golden 

tilefish, red grouper, speckled hind, Warsaw grouper, black grouper, goliath grouper 

(Jewfish), Nassau grouper, black sea bass, and red porgy. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Atlantic Coast Red Drum FMP 

• There is 1 stock subject to overfishing in this FMP - red drum. 

• There is 1 overfished stock in the this FMP - red drum. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Coral, Coral Ree fs , and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats of the South Atlantic Region FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Pelagic Sargassum Habitat in the South Atlantic Region FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Coastal Migratory Pelagics of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic FMP 

3

 The Dolphin-W ahoo FMP w as approved by the Secretary of Commerce on D ecem ber 23, 2003. 

Implementation of that FMP is pending. 

-14-
• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There is 1 overfished stock in this FMP -Gulf group King mackerel. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Gulf of Mexico/South Atlantic Spiny Lobster FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Gulf of Mexico Stone Crab FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Gulf of Mexico Shrimp FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico FMP 

•
 There are 3 stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP: red snapper, red grouper, and 

vermilion snapper. 

•
 There are 5 overfished stocks in this FMP - vermilion snapper, red snapper, greater 

amberjack, Nassau grouper, and goliath grouper (Jewfish). 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Gulf of Mexico Red Drum FMP 

• There is 1 stock subject to overfishing in this FMP - red drum. 

• There is 1 overfished stock in this FMP - red drum. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Coral and Coral Ree fs of the Gulf of Mexico FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S . Virgin Islands FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

•
 There are 2 overfished stocks in this FMP - Nassau Grouper and Goliath Grouper 

(Jewfish). 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Spiny Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S . Virgin Islands FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S . Virgin Islands FMP 

• There is 1 stock subject to overfishing in this FMP - queen conch. 

• There is 1 overfished stock in this FMP - queen conch. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP.�

Corals and Reef Associated Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the U.S . Virgin Islands FMP


-15-

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

FMPs under development 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in FMPs under development. 

• There are no overfished stocks in FMPs under development. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in FMPs under development. 

Table 3. Southeast Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching 

an overfished condition. 

FMP 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

Atlantic Coast Red Drum 

C oa sta l M igrato ry P elagic s of th e G ulf 

of Mexico and South 

Atlan tic 

Reef Fish R esources of the G ulf of 

Mex ico 

Reef Fish R esources of the G ulf of 

Mex ico 

Reef Fish R esources of the G ulf of 

Mex ico 

Reef Fish R esources of the G ulf of 

Mex ico 

Reef Fish R esources of the G ulf of 

Mex ico 

Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

vermilion snapper Y - -

red snapper Y Y -

snowy group er Y Y -

golden tilefish Y Y -

red grouper Y Y -

black sea bass Y Y -

gag Y - -

speckled hind Y Y -

Warsaw grouper Y Y -

black grouper Y Y ­

goliath grouper 

(Jewfish) 

- Y -

Nassau grou per - Y -

red porgy - Y -

red drum Y Y -

Gulf group king 

mackerel 

- Y -

red snapper Y Y -

red grouper Y - -

vermilion snapper Y Y -

greater amberjack - Y -

Nassau grou per - Y -

Reef Fish R esources of the G ulf of 

Mex ico 

goliath grouper 

(Jewfish) 

- Y -

-16-

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

Gulf of Mexico Red Drum red drum Y Y -

Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the 

USVI 

Nassau grou per - Y -

Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the 

USVI 

goliath grouper 

(Jewfish) 

- Y -

Queen C onch Resources of Puerto Rico 

and the USVI 

queen conch Y Y -

-17-

Southwest Region 

There is 1 FMP managed by NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council: Coastal 

Pelagic Species. The Southwest Region also manages bluefin tuna, part of the newly 

approved US West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species FMP. However, while that 

FMP was approved by the Secretary of Commerce on February 4, 2004, it was not fully 

implemented by NMFS until May 7, 2004, well after the December 31, 2003, cutoff for 

inclusion in this report. For this reason, that FMP is not included in this report. The US West 

Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species FMP4

 will be included in the 2004 report. 

Coastal Pelagic Species FMP 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Northern Pacific Bluefin Tuna 

• The bluefin tuna stock is not subject to overfishing. 

• The bluefin tuna stock is not overfished. 

• The bluefin tuna stock is not approaching an overfished condition. 

4

 The list of managed species in the US West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species FMP includes: 

North Pacific albacore tuna, yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, skipjack tuna, northern bluefin tuna, common thresher 

shark, pelagic thresher shark, bigeye thresher shark, shortfin mako shark, blue shark, striped marlin, swordfish, and 

dorado. 

-18-
Northwest Region 

There are 2 FMPs managed by NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council: West 

Coast Salmon; and Pacific Coast Groundfish. 

Pacific Coast Ground fish FMP 

• There are 2 stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP - lingcod and Pacific whiting. 

•
 There are 9 stocks overfished in the Pacific Coast Groundfish FM P - lingcod, Pacific 

ocean perch, bocaccio, canary rockfish, darkblotched rockfish, widow rockfish, Pacific 

whiting5

, cowcod and yelloweye rockfish. All of these stocks are currently rebuilding 

under interim measures. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

West Coast Salmon FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks overfished in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Table 4. Northwest Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching 

an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock 

Pacific Coast Groundfish Pacific whiting 

Pacific Coast Groundfish lingcod 

Pacific Coast Groundfish Pacific ocean perch 

Pacific Coast Groundfish boc acc io 

Pacific Coast Groundfish canary rockfish 

Pacific Coast Groundfish darkblotched rockfish 

Pacific Coast Groundfish widow rockfish 

Pacific Coast Groundfish cowcod 

Pacific Coast Groundfish yelloweye rockfish 

5 Pacific whiting is designated as subject to overfishing and overfished in this report, as that was its status 

Overfishing? Overfished ? Approaching? 

Y5 

Y 

-

-

-

-

-

-

Y 5 

Y 

Y 

Y 

Y 

Y 

Y 

Y 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

- Y -

prior to the December 31, 2003, cut-off date for status determinations. However, an assessment completed March, 

2004, indicates that overfishing was eliminated in 2002 and no longer overfished in 2003. In a final rule published 

on April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23667), NMFS announced that Pacific whiting w as above the target rebuilding biomass in 

2003 and is no longer considered overfished. 

-19-
Pacific Islands Region 

There are 4 FMP managed by NMFS and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council: 

Western Pacific Pelagics; Western Pacific Crustaceans; Western Pacific Precious Corals; and 

Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish of the Western Pacific. The Coral Reef Ecosystems of 

the Western Pacific Region FMP was approved by the Secretary of Commerce on June 14, 

2002, and includes federally-managed marine resources that are not listed in any of the 

other western Pacific fishery management plans. The FMP has not yet been implemented, 

however, and is therefore not included in this report. 

Western Pacific Pelagics FMP 

• There is 1 stock subject to overfishing in this FMP - Pacific bigeye tuna. 

• There are no stocks overfished in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Western Pacific Crustaceans FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks overfished in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Western Pacific Precious Corals FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks overfished in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Bottomfish and Seamount Ground fish of the Western Pacific FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There is 1 stock overfished in this FMP – pelagic armorhead. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Table 5. Pacific Islands Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or 

approaching an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

Western Pacific Pelagics Pacific bigeye tuna Y - -

Bottomfish and 

Seam ount Groun dfish of 

the W ester n P acific 

pelagic armorhead - Y -

-20-

Alaska Region 

There are 5 FMPs managed by NMFS and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council: Gulf 

of Alaska (GOA) Groundfish; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Groundfish; Bering Sea 

and Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crab; Alaska Weathervane Scallops; and Alaska High 

Seas Salmon. In addition, Pacific halibut is managed jointly with the Northwest Region and 

the International Pacific Halibut Commission. 

Many species in Alaska are monitored as part of a group or complex, but considered 

individually for the purposes of this report. The fishing mortality rate determination for the 

individual species is listed as “unknown”, but the species’ complex is “not subject to 

overfishing” based on abundance estimates for the complex. No fishing mortality rate 

determination can be made about the individual species. This determination is applicable for 

some sharks, skates, sculpins, octopus, and squid complexes in the GOA Groundfish FMP. 

In the BSAI Groundfish FMP, similar determinations are made for some stocks in the sharks, 

skates, sculpins, octopus, rockfish, and flatfish complexes. Twenty-five stocks from Alaska 

FMPs (9 from GOA and 16 from BSAI) were removed from the report, as there is no 

confirmed occurrence of those species in the respective areas. All of the removed stocks 

were listed as minor stocks in last year’s report. Although some stocks in these complexes 

are considered minor on an individual basis, they would be regarded as major on the basis 

of the complex as a whole, since more than 200,000 lbs are generally landed each year from 

each complex. 

GOA Groundfish FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

BSAI Ground fish FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

BSAI King and Tanner Crab FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

•
 There are 2 overfished stocks in this FMP - Bering Sea Snow Crab and Pribilof Islands 

Blue King Crab (previously listed as approaching an overfished condition). 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Alaska Weathervane Scallop FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Alaska High Seas Salmon FMP 

• There are no stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP. 

• There are no overfished stocks in this FMP. 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

-21-

Table 6. Alaska Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching an 

overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

BSA I King and Tanner 

Crab 

Bering Sea snow crab - Y -

BSA I King and Tanner 

Crab 

Pribilof Islands blue king 

crab 

- Y -

-22-

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species 

There are 2 FMP managed by NMFS: Atlantic Billfish; and Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and 

Sharks. 

Atlantic Billfish FMP 

•
 There are 3 stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP - blue marlin, white marlin, and 

sailfish (West Atlantic). 

•
 There are 3 overfished stocks in this FMP - blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish 

(West Atlantic). 

• There are no stocks approaching an overfished condition in this FMP. 

Atlantic Tunas , Swordfish, and Sharks FMP 

•
 There are 20 stocks subject to overfishing in this FMP - bigeye tuna (Atlantic), 

albacore (North Atlantic), bluefin tuna (West Atlantic), bull shark, spinner shark, silky 

shark, dusky shark, bignose shark, night shark, Caribbean reef shark, tiger shark, 

lemon shark, sand tiger shark, nurse shark, scalloped hammerhead shark, great 

hammerhead shark, smooth hammerhead shark, white shark, sandbar shark, and 

finetooth shark. 

•
 There are 18 overfished stocks in this FMP - bigeye tuna (Atlantic), albacore (North 

Atlantic), bluefin tuna (West Atlantic), bull shark, spinner shark, silky shark, dusky 

shark, bignose shark, night shark, Caribbean reef shark, tiger shark, lemon shark, 

sand tiger shark, nurse shark, scalloped hammerhead shark, great hammerhead 

shark, smooth hammerhead shark, and white shark. 

•
 There is 1 stock approaching an overfished condition in this FMP - Atlantic yellowfin 

tuna. 

Table 7. Highly Migratory stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching 

an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

Atlantic Billfish Atla ntic w hite m arlin Y Y -

Atlantic Billfish Atla ntic b lue m arlin Y Y -

Atlantic Billfish West Atlantic sailfish Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

Atlantic bigeye tuna Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

North Atlantic albacore Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

West Atlantic bluefin tuna Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

bull shark Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

sandbar shark Y - -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

finetooth shark Y - -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

spinner shark Y Y -

-23-

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

silky shark Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

dusky shark Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

bignose shark Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

night shark Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

Caribbean reef shark Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

tiger shark Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

lemon shark Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

sand tiger shark Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

nurse shark Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

scalloped hammerhead 

shark 

Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

great hamm erhead shark Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

smooth ham merhead sha rk Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

white shark Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, 

and Sh arks 

Atlantic yellowfin tuna - - Y 

-24-